The Day of Small Beginnings!

Ezra 3

Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, November 24. Happy Thanksgiving!

There are many reasons to be thankful today so count your blessings one by one! God is doing a new work in our midst, but we must have eyes to see it. The remnant of Israel had to be reminded of this very thing in Ezra 3:11-12:

They sang, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, “For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever.” And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy.

This was not a time to weep so God sent two prophets to encourage the remnant and give them courage to persevere in the rebuilding of the temple. In Zechariah 4:10, the prophet asked a piercing question, “For who has despised the day of small things?” Boldly, in Haggai 2:9, the Lord trumpeted to those who were weeping, “‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ declares the Lord of hosts.”

The prophets were exhorting the people to persevere in the work of the Lord and to not be discouraged by how these small beginnings compared to what it used to be – God was doing a new work! Paul exhorts in Philippians 3:13b-14, “Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Seize the moment and don’t despise small beginnings – every new work must begin with a single cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19-22). Build your life on the firm foundation of faith in Jesus Christ today (2 Corinthians 5:17).

God bless you!

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